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Show 223 naking i t quite noticeable. What r e a l l y makes t h i s mountain unique, however, is i t s clefted summit resembling a gunsight, and so i t was named by the White fountain explorers. It was for the same reason t h a t i t is today called Gap Mountain. This c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i s p l a i n l y v i s i b l y from Flagg (Desert Swamp) Springs but not from other l a r g e springs in the a r e a . This was a major clue for solving the i d e n t i t y of Dame's Desert Swamp Springs. Once Desert Swamp Springs were t e n t a t i v e l y i d e n t i f i e d as Flagg Springs, the remaining landmarks fell perfectly i n t o place along the headings drawn by Martineau on May 20 by using Flagg Springs as a r a d i u s p o i n t . Other landmarks diagramed by the historian were Gray Head (Grant Range) a t S 73 W, Willow (immigrant) Springs at N 5° W, Eureka Mountain (White Pine Range) a t N 35° W, and Mt. Whitney (Whipple Peak) in the Egan Range a t E 25 S, obviously named a f t e r Francis T. Whitney, a member of Dame's expedition from Parowan. On Friday, May 2 1 , the explorers began t h e i r drive toward t h e i r f i n a l destinations in t h i s wilderness. The main company commenced i t s r e t r e a t to Meadow Valley by withdrawing t o the Desert Swamp, variously reported at seventeen or eighteen miles t o the south. They found the place as Johnson had reported on his return from the south-nearly dry. Dame's pack t r a i n was enlarged by the addition of two more volunteers, George W. S i r r i n e , of Washington, and Charles Carter, of Parowan, Also accompanying Dame's p a r t y , for the time being, were Bean, Barney, Riggs, and others of Bean's company who were heading back t o the White Mountain Camp i n Cave Valley. Crossing Pine Canyon (Shingle Pass) they proceeded to Bean's base camp. Dame found the place s i t u a t e d on the e a s t side of the valley a t some springs. Less than a mile away was the l a r g e cave t h a t Martineau and others of his men had gone over to see on the l ^ t h . Now P r e s i d e n t Dame and his exploring party decided to tour this great cavern. |
